Camborne and the Pontins Championships

In the 1986 qualifying contest at Brean Sands Holiday Centre in Somerset, the 20 top section bands played the tone poem Lorenzo by Thomas Keighley. Camborne, under Mike Cotter, took the top spot, some way ahead of Tredegar and Woodfalls who were second and third.

West of England Bandmans Festival, Bugle: The Early Years

The West of England Bandsmen’s Festival, better known as Bugle Contest, is famous throughout the brass band world. Its host village takes on a different complexion as the clay-mining community is transformed into a festival location and becomes a Mecca for bandsmen from Cornwall and beyond. It is truly a Cornish gathering but, despite the carnival atmosphere, the music produced is of the highest order and no one should doubt the contest’s importance. As one supporter succinctly put it: “Never mind the Nationals, who won Bugle?” Held in the open air, it has to be experienced first-hand to appreciate the unique atmosphere. It is the only outdoor contest remaining from the early days of brass banding, a fact that does great credit to the organisers across the years.

Holman Brothers and Camborne Band

It may well be that many folk are unaware of the historical connection between Camborne Band and the great manufacturing company of Holman’s.

Nicholas Holman founded Holman Brothers Ltd in 1801, in Camborne, and although its name is forever linked with mining and mining equipment it also manufactured armaments and many other products.

Camborne Band National Championships Success

In 1925 Mr A W Parker from Treharris in South Wales was appointed Musical Director of Camborne Town Band; he made an immediate impact as the band swept the decks at the West of England Bandsmen’s Festival at Bugle with first place for Euryanthe, the hymn Calcutta and Hymn to Music.

Wathew Parker had been a member of the famous St Hilda’s Band and had also played with Besses o’ the Barn and now he had moved to Cornwall to conduct the ambitious players of Camborne Town Band.

The 1974 World Music Contest

Following their 5th place at the National Championships in 1973, the band was invited to take part in the 1974 Brass Championship of the World Music Contest in Kerkrade, Holland.

Unfortunately euphonium player Neil Peters was taken ill and was in such a state that he could not take part in the marching contest. Courtney Berryman took his place and remembered the judges walking beside the Band and taking account of any little imperfections in either the marching or the playing.